Telephone call screening and routing device and related method

ABSTRACT

A method for screening and routing incoming telephone calls includes extracting caller identification information from an incoming telephone call, providing a plurality of tables including a primary ring table, a secondary ring table, a voicemail table, a block call table, and a forward call table, and determining which one of the plurality of tables includes the caller identification information. The method also includes allowing the incoming telephone call to have a primary ring tone if the primary ring table includes the caller identification information, and allowing the incoming telephone call to have a secondary ring tone if the secondary ring table includes the caller identification information. The method further includes sending the incoming telephone call directly to voicemail without having a ring tone if the voicemail table includes the caller identification information, blocking the incoming telephone call if the block call table includes the caller identification information, and forwarding the incoming telephone call if the forward call table includes the caller identification information.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority from U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application Ser. No. 60/529,400, filed Dec. 12, 2003, which ishereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to the screening and routing oftelephone calls, and more particularly to a telephone call screening androuting device and related method.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

With the widespread use of telephones, in particular cellulartelephones, telephone users are able to make and receive many moretelephone calls a day. However, many received telephone calls areunwanted telephone calls, such as solicitations, telemarketers, wrongnumbers, or calls the telephone user does not want to answer. In orderto avoid some of these telephone calls, many telephone users requestthat their numbers be unlisted to prevent a large number of thirdparties from calling the telephone user. Nonetheless, once the telephoneuser gives out his/her telephone number, a possibility exists that thetelephone number will be obtained by unwanted callers.

In an attempt to screen unwanted telephone calls, many telephone userssubscribe to a service called caller identification (ID). Each telephonecall is generally preceded with caller ID information that identifiesthe telephone number of the calling party. The caller ID information(i.e., the telephone number of the calling party) is displayed on thetelephone display to allow the telephone user to view this informationprior to answering the telephone call. Depending on the caller IDinformation, the telephone user may answer the telephone or allow thetelephone to continue to ring until the answering machine or voicemailsystem picks up the telephone call.

On the other hand, the calling party may conceal its identity bysubscribing to a service called caller ID block. Caller ID block allowsthe telephone caller to prevent the telephone user from knowing theidentity of the caller. Therefore, the telephone user may have to riskanswering the telephone call, just to find out that the call is from anunwanted caller. Alternatively, the telephone user may allow the phoneto continue to ring until the answering machine or voicemail systempicks up the telephone. The unwanted caller and the continuous ringingof the telephone may be disruptive, distracting and irritating to thetelephone user. Thereafter, the telephone user will have to check itsmessages or voicemails to possibly determine the identity of the callerand the contents of the message.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In particular, and by way of example only, one embodiment of theinvention is a method for screening and routing an incoming call from acaller. The method includes receiving an incoming telephone signalincluding caller identification information from a caller andidentifying an entry in a data set that matches the calleridentification information. The method also includes extracting anidentifier from the entry in the data set and, based on the identifier,selecting one of a set including (1) sending a primary ring signal, (2)sending a secondary ring signal, (3) sending a voicemail signal, (4)sending a block call signal, and (5) sending a forward call signal.

One embodiment of the invention is a method for screening and routingincoming telephone calls. The method includes extracting calleridentification information from an incoming telephone call, providing aplurality of tables including a primary ring table, a secondary ringtable, a voicemail table, a block call table, and a forward call table,and determining which one of the plurality of tables includes the calleridentification information. The method also includes allowing theincoming telephone call to have a primary ring tone if the primary ringtable includes the caller identification information, and allowing theincoming telephone call to have a secondary ring tone if the secondaryring table includes the caller identification information. The methodfurther includes sending the incoming telephone call directly tovoicemail without having a ring tone if the voicemail table includes thecaller identification information, blocking the incoming telephone callif the block call table includes the caller identification information,and forwarding the incoming telephone call if the forward call tableincludes the caller identification information.

One embodiment of the invention is a device for screening and routingincoming telephone calls. The device includes a transceiver forreceiving an incoming telephone call including caller identificationinformation and a memory for storing a plurality of entries where eachentry has an identifier selected from one of a set including (1) aprimary ring, (2) a secondary ring, (3) a voicemail, (4) a block call,and (5) a forward call. The device also includes a processor formatching the caller identification information to one of the pluralityof entries and for allowing the incoming telephone call to have aprimary ring tone if the identifier of the matched entry is the primaryring, allowing the incoming telephone call to have a secondary ring toneif the identifier of the matched entry is the secondary ring, sendingthe incoming telephone call directly to voicemail without having a ringtone if the identifier of the matched entry is the voicemail, blockingthe incoming telephone call if the identifier of the matched entry isthe block call, and forwarding the incoming telephone call if theidentifier of the matched entry is the forward call.

These and other features and advantages of the embodiments of theinvention will become apparent from the following detailed description,taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate,by way of example, the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a cellular telephone having a display and akeypad for implementing an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the principal components of thecellular telephone for implementing an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a main table including, for example, a primary ringtable, a secondary ring table, a voicemail table, a block call table,and a forward call table that are used for screening and routing oftelephone calls according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates an address book having an alphabetical listing ofnames and numbers with identifiers that specify the screening and/orrouting operation that is performed when a telephone call is receivedfrom the listed number according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a menu or window that is displayed on the display screen whenthe telephone user selects one of the names and/or numbers in theaddress book according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is an identifier menu or window that is displayed on the displayscreen when the telephone user selects the edit identifier line on themenu; and

FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating the process of screening and routingan incoming call according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Systems and methods that implement the embodiments of the variousfeatures of the invention will now be described with reference to thedrawings. The drawings and the associated descriptions are provided toillustrate embodiments of the invention and not to limit the scope ofthe invention. Reference in the specification to “one embodiment” or “anembodiment” is intended to indicate that a particular feature,structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodimentis included in at least an embodiment of the invention. The appearancesof the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specificationare not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Throughout thedrawings, reference numbers are re-used to indicate correspondencebetween referenced elements. In addition, the first digit of eachreference number indicates the figure in which the element firstappears.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, FIG. 1 is a front viewof a cellular telephone 100 having a display screen 105 and a keypad 110for implementing an embodiment of the invention. The display screen 105is typically a backlit liquid crystal display (LCD) panel. The keypad110 includes numeric keys for dialing and allowing the telephone user toinput information (e.g., numbers, letters, or commands) into thecellular telephone 100. The cellular telephone 100 also has an earpiece115 (e.g., a speaker), a microphone 120, an antenna 125, and a powerbutton 130. The earpiece 115 delivers audible sounds to the telephoneuser, the microphone 120 receives voice signals from the telephone user,the antenna 125 transmits and receives radio frequency signals, and thepower button 130 turns the cellular telephone 100 on and off. In oneembodiment, the keypad 110 includes a SEND key 135 for initiating a callor selecting an operation, an END key 140 for terminating a call orexiting an operation, and an UP/DOWN key 145 for scrolling throughoperations or entries that are displayed on the display screen 105. Thecellular telephone 100 houses the components shown in the block diagramof FIG. 2. Even though a cellular telephone 100 has been described,other conventional telephone can be utilized.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram 200 illustrating the principal components ofthe cellular telephone 100 for implementing an embodiment of theinvention. The cellular telephone 100 includes a processor 205 forexecuting routines that are used to screen and route telephone calls.The processor 205 retrieves the routines from the program memory 215.The routines may cause the processor 205 to display menus on the displayscreen 105 that may be selected by the telephone user using the keypad110. The routines are generally implemented using hardware, software, ora combination thereof. The routines can be stored in the program memory215. The processor 205 includes an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter forconverting analog voice signals, from the microphone 120, into digitalvoice signals that are sent to a remote telephone user via thetransceiver 220 and the antenna 125. The processor 205 also includes adigital-to-analog (D/A) converter for converting digital voice signals,received from the remote telephone user, into analog voice signals thatare received by the telephone user via the earpiece 115. The transceiver220 is used to send and receive radio frequency signals to and from theprocessor 205 via the antenna 125. In addition, using a text inputprogram stored in the program memory 215, the telephone user can composea text message using the keypad 110 that can be sent to the remotetelephone user.

FIG. 3 illustrates a main table 300 including, for example, a primaryring table 305, a secondary ring table 310, a voicemail table 315, ablock call table 320, and a forward call table 325 that are used forscreening and routing of telephone calls according to an embodiment ofthe invention. To screen and route telephone calls, the telephone userenters information, using the keypad 110, that can be viewed using thedisplay screen 105 and can be stored in the data memory 210. That is,the telephone user may associate each name and/or telephone number witha table for facilitate the screening and routing of telephone calls. Forexample, each name and/or telephone number can be associated with one ofthe following tables: the primary ring table 305, the secondary ringtable 310, the voicemail table 315, the block call table 320, and theforward call table 325. The name of the table generally specifies thescreening and/or routing operation that is performed when a telephonecall is received. The telephone user generally selects a particulartable for each name and/or telephone number stored in the data memory210. The contents of the main table 300 are generally stored in the datamemory 210, which can be accessed by the processor 205.

FIG. 4 illustrates an address book 400 having an alphabetical listing ofnames 405 and numbers 410 with identifiers 415 that specify thescreening and/or routing operation that is performed when a telephonecall is received from the listed number 410. The identifiers 415 can be,for example, a primary ring (PR), a secondary ring (SR), a voicemail(VM), a block call (BC), and a forward call (FC). Each name 405 andnumber 410 may have a corresponding identifier 415. The identifier 415specifies the action to be taken if a telephone call having thecorresponding name 405 or number 410 is received by the cellulartelephone 100.

In a first example, if the cellular telephone 100 receives a telephonecall from telephone number 800-333-1111 (Mother-in-Law), the call issent directly to voicemail without the cellular telephone 100 ringing.In one embodiment, the telephone user does not know that a telephonecall was received by the Mother-in-Law unless the Mother-in-Law leaves avoicemail message for the telephone user. Hence, the telephone call isreceived without the telephone user knowing that the call was made andthe telephone user's cellular telephone 100 does not ring. In anotherembodiment, the telephone user receive a message on the display screen105 stating “Call from Mother-in-Law (800-333-1111) Sent Directly toVoicemail”. This embodiment allows the telephone user to know if atelephone call has been sent directly to voicemail and the name andnumber of the telephone caller.

In a second example, if the cellular telephone 100 receives a telephonecall from telephone number 800-444-2222, the call is blocked (i.e., abusy signal is received by the Ex-Wife or the call is disconnected ordropped). In one embodiment, the telephone user does not know that atelephone call was attempted by the Ex-Wife. The telephone call isblocked without the telephone user knowing that the call was attemptedand the telephone user's cellular telephone 100 does not ring. Inanother embodiment, the telephone user receives a message on the displayscreen 105 stating “Blocked Call from Ex-Wife (800-444-2222)”. Thisembodiment allows the telephone user to know if a telephone call hasbeen blocked and the name and number of the telephone caller.

In a third example, if the cellular telephone 100 receives a telephonecall from telephone number 800-555-3333 (Patient #1), the call can beforwarded to another person, for example, another on-call doctor at histelephone number (800-666-3333), without the cellular telephone 100ringing. In one embodiment, the telephone user does not know that atelephone call was received by the Patient #1. Hence, the telephone callis received without the telephone user knowing that the call was madeand the telephone user's cellular telephone 100 does not ring. Inanother embodiment, the telephone user receives a message on the displayscreen 105 stating “Call from Patient #1 (800-555-3333) Forwarded toDoctor #2 (800-666-3333)”. This embodiment allows the telephone user toknow if a telephone call has been forwarded to another user and the nameand number of the telephone caller and the forwarded recipient.

In some instances, the telephone caller's telephone number is unlisted,unavailable or blocked using caller ID block or any other call blockingdevice. In these situations, the telephone user can set the cellulartelephone 100 to perform an operation for these telephone calls. Thatis, the identifier 415 for the name 405 or number 410 “CallerUnavailable” can be assigned to a particular table or set to PR, SR, VM,BC or FC. For example, when a telephone call is received that is from atelephone caller that blocks his/her telephone number, the telephonecall can be, for example, blocked as described herein.

In some instances, the telephone caller's telephone number is notcontained in the address book 400. In these situations, the telephoneuser can set the cellular telephone 100 to perform an operation forthese telephone calls. That is, the identifier 415 for the name 405 ornumber 410 “All Other Calls” can be assigned to a particular table orset to PR, SR, VM, BC or FC. For example, when a telephone call isreceived that is from a telephone caller not listed in the address book400, the telephone call can be, for example, sent directly to voicemailas described herein.

The telephone user can call a particular person or edit the name 405,the number 410 and/or the identifier 415 by first moving (using theUP/DOWN key 145) a highlighted bar 425 over the desired name 405 andnumber 410. For example, the highlighted bar 425 is shown in FIG. 4 tobe over the Spouse (800-111-1111). Then, the telephone user presses theSEND key 135, which causes a menu or window 500 to be displayed on thedisplay screen 105 (see FIG. 5).

FIG. 5 is a menu or window 500 that is displayed on the display screen105 when the telephone user selects one of the names 405 and/or numbers410 in the address book 400. The menu 500 includes a call line 505, anedit information line 510, an edit identifier line 515, and a return toaddress book line 520. The highlighted bar 425 is shown in its defaultposition to be over the call line 505. The telephone user can press theSEND key 135 to call the Spouse or move (using the UP/DOWN key 145) thehighlighted bar 425 down the menu 500. If the edit information line 510is selected by pressing the SEND key 135, the telephone user can editthe Spouse's information (e.g., address, telephone number, etc.). If theedit identifier line 515 is selected by pressing the SEND key 135, anidentifier menu or window 600 is displayed on the display screen 105(see FIG. 6).

FIG. 6 is an identifier menu or window 600 that is displayed on thedisplay screen 105 when the telephone user selects the edit identifierline 515 on the menu 500. The identifier menu 600 includes a selectprimary ring line 605, a select secondary ring line 610, a selectvoicemail line 615, a select block call line 620, and a select forwardcall line 625. The highlighted bar 425 is shown in its default positionto be over the primary ring line 605. The telephone-user can press theSEND key 135 to select the highlighted line or move (using the UP/DOWNkey 145) the highlighted bar 425 to another line on the identifier menu600. If the primary ring line 605, the secondary ring line 610, thevoicemail line 615 or the block call line 620 is selected by pressingthe SEND key 135, the new selection is saved for the particular name 405and/or number 410 and the telephone user is returned to the previousmenu 500, which is displayed on the display screen 105 as shown in FIG.5. If the forward call line 625 is selected by pressing the SEND key135, the address book 400 is displayed so that the telephone user canscroll through the names 405 and/or number 410 to select the forwardingnumber (see FIG. 4). Optionally, the telephone user can input the nameand/or number of the forwarding caller if the address book 400 does notlist the forwarding caller. Once the forwarding number has been selectedor input, the forwarding name and/or number is saved for the particularname 405 and/or number 410 and the telephone user is returned to theidentifier menu 600.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart 700 illustrating the process of screening androuting an incoming call according to an embodiment of the invention.The phone carrier (e.g., Cingular Wireless) at a base station or callcenter receives an incoming telephone signal (705). The incomingtelephone signal includes the telephone number to be called and thecaller ID information of the caller. The phone carrier transmits thetelephone number to be called and the caller ID information of thecaller to a screening and routing system (710). The screening androuting system may be part of or connected (via a wired or wirelesslink) to the base station or located in the program memory 215 of thecellular telephone 100. If the screening and routing system is part ofor connected to the base station, the main table 300 or the address book400 is stored in or made available to the screening and routing system.

The screening and routing system accesses the main table 300 or theaddress book 400 of the telephone number to be called and locates thetelephone number of the caller in the main table 300 or the address book400 (715). The screening and routing system determines the table (e.g.,primary ring table 305) that includes or the identifier 415 that matchesthe telephone number of the caller (720). Based on the table or theidentifier 415, the screening and routing system performs one or moreoperations as described herein.

If the table or the identifier 415 corresponds to a primary ring, thescreening and routing system sends or transmits the telephone call tothe cellular telephone 100 (725) and causes or instructs the cellulartelephone 100 to ring with a primary or standard ring tone (730).

If the table or the identifier 415 corresponds to a secondary ring, thescreening and routing system sends or transmits the telephone call tothe cellular telephone 100 (735) and causes or instructs the cellulartelephone 100 to ring with a secondary or alternate ring tone (740).

If the table or the identifier 415 corresponds to voicemail, thescreening and routing system sends or transmits the telephone call tothe voicemail of the cellular telephone 100 without causing orinstructing the cellular telephone to ring (745). In one embodiment, thescreening and routing system sends or transmits a message to the displayscreen 105 stating “Call from [Name and Number] Sent Directly toVoicemail” (750).

If the table or the identifier 415 corresponds to a block call, thescreening and routing system sends or transmits a busy signal to thecaller or disconnects the caller (755). In one embodiment, the screeningand routing system plays a message to the caller stating that the “Callhas been Blocked by the Recipient” (760). In one embodiment, thescreening and routing system sends or transmits a message to the displayscreen 105 stating “Call from [Name and Number] Has Been Blocked” (765).

If the table or the identifier 415 corresponds to a forward call, thescreening and routing system determines the forwarding number from thetable (770) and sends or transmits the telephone call to the forwardingnumber without causing or instructing the cellular telephone 100 to ring(775). In one embodiment, the screening and routing system sends ortransmits a message to the display screen 105 stating “Call from [Nameand Number] has been Forwarded to [Name and Number]” (780).

Although an exemplary embodiment of the invention has been shown anddescribed, many other changes, combinations, omissions, modificationsand substitutions, in addition to those set forth in the aboveparagraphs, may be made by one having skill in the art withoutnecessarily departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.Accordingly, the invention is not intended to be limited by thepreferred embodiments, but is to be defined by reference to the appendedclaims.

1. A method for screening and routing an incoming call from a caller,comprising: receiving at a remote screening and routing system anincoming telephone signal including identification information;identifying at the remote screening and routing system an entry in adata set that matches the identification information, wherein the dataset includes: (1) an entry for a name or telephone number contained inthe data set, (2) a caller-unavailable entry where a name or telephonenumber is blocked prior to the incoming call being received at theremote screening and routing system, and (3) an entry for a name ortelephone number not blocked and not contained in the data set;extracting at the remote screening and routing system an identifier fromthe matched entry in the data set; based on the identifier and at thetime when the call is received, selecting one signal to transmit fromthe remote screening and routing system to a communication device from aset including (1) a primary ring signal, (2) a secondary ring signal,(3) a voicemail signal, (4) a block signal, and (5) a forward signal;wherein a signal selected for transmission to the communication devicewhen the matched entry is the caller-unavailable entry is different thana signal selected for transmission to the communication device when thematched entry is an entry for a name or telephone number not blocked andnot contained in the data set; disconnecting the incoming telephonesignal from the remote screening and routing system when the selectedsignal to transmit is the block signal; and transmitting to a displayscreen of the communication device a message including a name and anumber associated with the disconnected incoming telephone signal whenthe incoming telephone signal is disconnected from the remote screeningand routing system.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the data setincludes a plurality of names and a plurality of telephone numbers. 3.The method of claim 1, wherein the identifier is selected from a groupconsisting of a primary ring identifier, a secondary ring identifier, avoicemail identifier, a block identifier, and a forward identifier. 4.The method of claim 3, further comprising receiving the primary ringsignal on the communication device if the identifier is the primary ringidentifier.
 5. The method of claim 3, further comprising receiving thesecondary ring signal on the communication device if the identifier isthe secondary ring identifier.
 6. The method of claim 3, furthercomprising receiving a message on the communication device indicatingthat an incoming signal has been sent to voicemail if the identifier isthe voicemail identifier.
 7. The method of claim 3, further comprisingreceiving a message on the communication device indicating that anincoming signal has been blocked if the identifier is the blockidentifier.
 8. The method of claim 3, further comprising receiving amessage on the communication device indicating that an incoming signalhas been forwarded if the identifier is the forward identifier.
 9. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the first signal corresponds to a blocksignal and the second signal corresponds to a voicemail signal.
 10. Amethod for screening and routing incoming telephone calls at a remotescreening and routing system, comprising: extracting calleridentification information from an incoming telephone call; providing aplurality of tables including a primary ring table, a secondary ringtable, a voicemail table, a block call table, and a forward call table;matching the caller identification to an entry in the plurality oftables, the entries including: (1) a name or telephone number entry, (2)a caller-unavailable entry where the caller name or telephone number isblocked prior to extracting caller identification information, and (3)an entry for a name or telephone number not blocked and not contained inthe plurality of tables, wherein the caller-unavailable entry isincluded in a different table than the entry for a name or telephonenumber not blocked and not contained in the plurality of tables;determining which one of the plurality of tables includes the matchedentry; allowing the incoming telephone call to have a primary ring toneif the primary ring table includes the matched entry; allowing theincoming telephone call to have a secondary ring tone if the secondaryring table includes the matched entry; sending the incoming telephonecall directly to voicemail without having a ring tone if the voicemailtable includes the matched entry; disconnecting the incoming telephonecall and displaying on the display screen information associated withthe incoming telephone call and a message indicating that the incomingtelephone call has been disconnected if the block call table includesthe matched entry; forwarding the incoming telephone call if the forwardcall table includes the matched entry; and displaying on a displayscreen the caller identification information and forwarded recipientinformation when the incoming telephone call has been forwarded.
 11. Themethod of claim 10, further comprising displaying on the display screena name and a telephone number associated with the incoming telephonecall and a message indicating that the incoming telephone call has beensent to voicemail if the voicemail table includes the matched entry. 12.The method of claim 10, wherein the forwarded recipient informationincludes a forwarded recipient number and a forwarded recipient name.13. The method of claim of claim 10, wherein the block call tableincludes the caller-unavailable entry and wherein the voicemail tableincludes the entry for a name or telephone number not blocked and notcontained in the plurality of tables.
 14. A device for screening androuting incoming telephone calls, comprising: a transceiver forreceiving an incoming telephone call including caller identificationinformation; a memory for storing a plurality of entries, wherein theplurality of entries include at least: (1) a name or telephone numberentry, (2) a caller-unavailable entry where the caller name or telephonenumber is blocked prior to the incoming call being received, and (3) anentry for a name or telephone number not blocked and not stored in thememory, further wherein the caller-unavailable entry is included in adifferent table than the entry for a name or telephone number notblocked and not stored in the memory., where each of the plurality ofentries further includes an identifier selected from one of a setincluding (1) a primary ring, (2) a secondary ring, (3) a voicemail, (4)a block call, and (5) a forward call; a processor for matching thecaller identification information to one of the plurality of entries andfor: allowing the incoming telephone call to have a primary ring tone ifthe identifier of the matched entry is the primary ring; allowing theincoming telephone call to have a secondary ring tone if the identifierof the matched entry is the secondary ring; sending the incomingtelephone call directly to voicemail without having a ring tone if theidentifier of the matched entry is the voicemail; disconnecting theincoming telephone call without causing a ring tone and without userinteraction if the identifier of the matched entry is the block call;and forwarding the incoming telephone call if the identifier of thematched entry is the forward call; and a display screen for displaying aname and a number associated with the disconnected incoming telephonecall when the processor disconnects the incoming telephone call.
 15. Thedevice of claim 14, wherein the disconnecting the incoming telephonecall includes displaying, on the display screen, a message indicatingthat the incoming telephone call was blocked.
 16. The device of claim14, wherein the caller-unavailable entry includes the blocked callidentifier, and wherein the entry for a name or telephone number notblocked and not stored in the memory includes the voicemail identifier.